Did Meghan Markle break royal tradition to find out Archie’s sex? Duchess referred to a ‘baby boy’ in editor’s letter for Vogue edition she guest-edited during her pregnancy
- Meghan Markle, 37, wrote editor’s letter for the September issue of Vogue
- The piece appears to have been written well in advance of publication this week
- She reflects when issue comes out she’ll be holding ‘three month old baby boy’
- Started work on magazine in January, hinting she knew sex of baby before birth
The Duchess of Sussex appears to have hinted that she and Prince Harry knew they were expecting a baby boy before his arrival.
Meghan, 37, and Harry, 34, welcomed son Archie in May but maintained throughout the pregnancy that they would only find out the sex of their baby at the birth, as per royal tradition.
However in her editor’s letter for British Vogue Meghan explicitly mentions ‘holding a baby boy’, writing: ‘I was about five months pregnant when the process began and by the time you hold this issue in your hands, my husband and I will be holding our three-month-old baby boy in ours.’
While it is not known when she wrote the letter, it is thought the Duchess began working on the issue with editor-in-chief Edward Enninful in January – four months before Archie’s arrival.
Some royal watchers, including those at Cosmopolitan, read this as an indication that the royal already knew she was expecting a son when she penned the piece.
The Duchess of Sussex appears to have hinted that she and Prince Harry knew they were expecting a baby boy before his arrival. Pictured, with son Archie at a polo match this month
While it is not known when Meghan wrote the letter, the Duchess said she had been working on the magazine since January
The Cosmopolitan article notes: ‘We don’t know exactly when Meghan penned her editor’s letter, but considering how far in advance magazines work (the issue is the September issue, don’t forget, and it’s being published in just a couple of days’ time) there’s every chance it was written prior to Archie’s birth.’
Meghan and Harry said at several stages of the pregnancy that they hadn’t found out the sex of the baby.
In January, Meghan was heard telling well-wishers on a visit to Birkenhead that she and Harry had chosen not to find out if it’s a girl or boy so they can keep it a ‘surprise’.
Meghan has worked as guest editor of the magazine since she was around five months pregnant (pictured with editor of Vogue Edward Enninful)
However rumours endured throughout the pregnancy, with royal watchers reporting supposed signs that the couple had in fact found out the birth.
Following Meghan’s New York baby shower there was speculation that the royal baby would be a boy after the Duchess’s former Suits co-star Abigail Spencer was spotted holding a blue floral gift bag that was stuffed with blue tissue paper.
And Meghan was regularly been drawn to the colour blue throughout her pregnancy, and specifically on important royal occasions such as the Christmas Day service at Sandringham, which could have been a nod to the sex of her baby.
Meghan and Harry said at several stages of the pregnancy that they hadn’t found out the sex of the baby. Pictured, introducing Archie to the world two days after his birth in May
She wore navy or blue on a third of her public engagements throughout the pregnancy, with just a handful of pinks.
Royal commentator Victoria Arbiter stated in May that it is ‘royal philosophy’ to keep the baby’s gender a secret until the day of the birth.
Kate Middleton and Prince William kept the sexes of all three of their children a secret until after they were born, and they were public about their decision.
While this is typically a standard rule for members of the royal family, Queen Elizabeth II has not made it an official ban.